Candymaking apparatus



June 2, 1953 R. F. MORRISON 2,540,445

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. CANDYMAKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 A j@ Y2 Patented June 2, 1953 CANDYMAKIN G APPARATUS Robert F. Morrison, Oak Park, Ill., assig'nor to Mars, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1947, Serial No. 768,025

3 Claims. l

The present invention relates to the manufacture of candy in the form of pieces or bars, and particularly to certain apparatus for producing the candy in a continuous automatic operation. The candy progresses under controlled conditions from its ingredient stage in the candy mixers through separating, slicing, coating and chocolate enrobing stages to an automatic Wrapping machine where the pieces or bars are then wrapped in paper. All of this is performed as a continuous controlled operation Without the candy being touched by the human hand from the time the candy is rst introduced into the batch mixers until the pieces or bars are in condition for Wrapping.

For purposes of illustration the present invention will be described in connection with the preparation of a bar of candy of the type disclosed in Fig. 1. Such a bar comprises a layer of nougat on top of which is disposed a layer of caramel |0| having a layer of nuts |02 thereon, which in turn are covered by a second layer of caramel |03. The entire bar is coated or enrobed with chocolate |04.

Referring to Fig. 2 bars of this type are manufactured continuously by a series of steps that are performed at various stations including stations A to El inclusive indicated in Fig. 2.

The equipment described herein can be used to make candy bars comprising a wide variation of ingredients put together in accordance with many different formulae, such for example as caramel, toffee, marshmallow and nougat, or a combination of these materials. Specifically speaking, the nougat is a batter-like mix made of aerated egg whites and a syrup of sugar, salt, water and corn syrup; and after thoroughly beating this mix to provide additional aeration, vegetable oil, malted -milk and cocoa are added and all are thoroughly mixed together. This nougat mix or dough is introduced through a spreader device generally indicated at |06. The operation of spreading this nougat onto a conveyor |01 is accomplished at station A and the nougat thus spread takes the form of a relatively wide sheet ills of nougat that is of a predetermined uniform thickness throughout its entire area. The conveyor |01 moves this sheet |08 of nougat in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

At station B the two layers I0| and |03 (see Fig. 1) of caramel with the layer of nuts |02 held therebetween are laid on top of the sheet of nougat |08 by means of a caramel and nut dispenser generally. indicated at |09 (see Figs. 2 to 5 incl). The moving conveyor |01 thereafter carries combined layers of nougat, caramel and nuts |00 to |03 inclusive, into a plurality of slitting knives generally indicated vat Il!) where at station C, the combined sheet of nougat, caramel and nuts are slit lengthwise into ribbonlike strips of candy |2a and I |2b, which are separated as shown in Fig. 2 into upper andv lower strips.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the odd numbered strips, as for example, the first, third and fth,

etc. strips reading from right to left on the draW- the separating operation. The-strips are then cut into bar lengths, which operation is accomplished by means of a slicing machine generally indicated at |3 at station D. 'Ihe bars thus cut A are illustrated at Illia and ||4b in Fig. 2, the former being disposed at the lower elevation. These spaced and cut bars I Ma and |411 leaving the slicer H3 are deposited on bar transfer unit generally indicated by the legend Transfer Unit and are then returned to a common plane on conveyor |I6 by means of a bar spacer generally indicated at H5 at station E. The bar spacer not only returns the bars 4a and I |417 to a common plane but also spaces these bars so that they are deposited in the common plane with adjacent bars disposed at the proper distance apart for the chocolate enrobing operation to be performed. The bars leaving the slicer |I3 are spaced apart endwise by the bar transfer unit that travels at a slightly greater speed than the speed of the conveyors moving the candy through the slicer. The conveyor H6 moves the bars to a chocolate coating or enrobing machine indicated at ||1 in Fig. 3 from which the bars are conveyed through a suitable cooling chamber ||8 and finally onto the b-ar wrapping .equipment (not shown).

The nougat dough that is introduced onto the conveyor |01 at station A is necessarily warm and relatively soft so that the sheet |08 of nougat passing from station A to station a cooling chamber 9 (see Fig. 3) that chills and hardens to a certain extent the nougat prepara- B travels into tory to depositing the caramel and nut spread thereon at station B. Likewise the caramel and nut layer deposited at station B is warm and relatively soft and therefore the candy leaving station B is caused to travel through a cooling chamber 125 before the candy is brought to the slitters at station C.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for manufacturing candy bars on a continuous basis without requiring the human hand to touch the candy. This is to be accomplished at a high rate of production of candy bars with provisions for changing the production rate f in a very simple and quick manner.

The foregoing constitutes some of the principal objects and advantages of the present invention, others of which will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective View showing a typical candy bar, with a portion oi' the chocolate'coating removed, that can be made as disclosed hereina-iter;

Fig; 2 isa more or less schematic view illustratingxthe various stages through which the candy passes when manufactured in accordance with thepresent method;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of the candy makingA machinery o which this invention is a part;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the equipment shown in Fig.' 3;

Fig. 5 is a more or less schematic side view oi' the candy illustrating thefprogress of the candy from the' point where the dough is first spread out ontothe conveyor until it is separated into ribbons' and the ribbons separated and cut into bar lengths;

Fig. 6 isl a side elevational View of the slitter and separator that slits the sheet of candy into ribbonsand spreads the ribbons into upper and lower elevations;

Fig.. 7 is a plan view of the device shown in Figi 6;

Fig. 8v is a vertical, sectional view taken through the;slitter, the view being taken on the line 8-8 oiFig; 6;

Fig.` 9 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through-the slitter, the view being taken on the lineS-S of Fig. '1;

Figi-10 Vis an enlarged, fragmentary View showing :theV relationship between the slitter discs and thedrum against which they cut, the drum being illustrated .partly in section;

Fig..11 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional View takenalong the line 11-11 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view takenialong the line 12-12 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line l3-13 of Fig. 12.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustration, it being recognized of course that many modifications may ber made in the form of the'invention shown Without departing from the intended scope of the invention.

Certain subject matter herein is disclosed and claimed in my prior co-pending applications Serial No. 762,145, led July 19, 1947, now Patent No. 2,612,852, dated October 7, 1952, and Serial No. '139,869,.led April 7, 1947, now Patent No. 2,612,851, dated October 7, 1952.

Reference may be had to said patents for a complete disclosure of the details of the spreader equipment at station A, the caramel and nut dispenser at station B, the bar Slicer at station D, .and thebar spacer at station E.

The `dough or nougat batch is first prepared 4 and thoroughly mixed and whipped in one or more batch mixers or the like, and is then dumped into a hopper that includes a pair of spaced spreader rollers 122 and 123 and rotating end discs operating against the ends of said rollers that have chilled surfaces coming in contact with the candy dough, the forward disc being omitted in Fig. 2. IThe candy when rst dumped into the hopper is relatively hot andis soft and sticky but upon coming in contact with the chilled rollers, a slightly hardened surface or skin is formed on those portions of the candy that engage the chilled rollers.

The candy dough is fed between the spaced spreader rollers and emerges from the rollers in the form of a fiat strip that corresponds in width with the width of the rollers and in thickness with the distance between the rollers. This candy is deposited upon a moving belt conveyor and is conveyed away from theA spreader rollers at a rate of speed corresponding to the speed at which the dough is discharged from the rollers.

It is important that this resulting sheet of nougat be of uniform thickness throughout its length and width. The hardened surface or skin formed by the chilled rollers on the sheet of nougat is disposed on the top, bottom and side faces of the sheet thus deposited upon the con veyor.

Referring to Fig. 3 the batch mixer 105- discharges its contents through a chute 121 into the spreader device generally indicated at |116.v

The spreader device forms the dough into the aforesaid continuous flat strip which is deposited on belt conveyor 151 (Figs. 24).

As diagrammatically shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the conveyor 101 comprises generally a conveyor belt 325 that operates about a pair of spaced drums or rollers 326 and 321.

At station B (Figs. 2 and 3) which is disposed intermediate the ends of theconveyor 151 is dis*- posed the caramel and nut dispenser 109.

From the cooling chamber 1211 (Fig. 3) the `combination nougat and caramel sheet of candy is conveyed to the slitter and separator indicated at station C in Fig. 2 and at 515 in Fig. 6.

The details of the slitter and separator 515 are best shown in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive. to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive the slitter and separator 515 is mounted on a base 515 and comprises generally a frame indicated at 511 that is mounted directly on the base 511i and includes upright legs 518 Iconnected at their upper ends by side frame members 519 and forward and rear frame members 530 (Fig. 7). Adjacent to each side of the frame 511 and connected to the bottom of the legs 518 is an angle member 581. These angle members 581 are disposed in substantially horizontal spaced relationship and each comprises an upstanding web portion 582 and an outwardly projecting flange 583.

As best shown in Figs. 6 and '1 the frame member 511 is spaced from the roller 321 but lies in the horizontal direction of the conveyor 101. The angle members 582 project forwardly with respect to the frame 511 (see Figs. 6 and 7) so as to span a substantial portion of the-distance be tween the frame 511 and the adjacent roller` 321 of the conveyor 161. `angle members 581 an-d disposed in substantially parallel relationship therewith is an angle member 584 that is secured to the frame 511. These distance between the frame 511 and the roller Referring Spaced above each of thek 321 of the conveyor |81. Thus there is provided a lower angle member 58| land an upper angle member 584 to each side of the frame 511 and to the forward ends of each pair of such lower and upper angle members is secured a vertically disposed plate member 584. Referring to Fig. 8 the plate members 585 are apertured through their adjacent lower edges to receive a rod 585 that extends between the spaced angle members 58| and is secured thereto by suitable bolts 581 that are threaded. onto the ends of rod 588. Suitable lspacer sleeves 588 are provided between the angle members 58| and the adjacent plate members 585 and aspacer sleeve 589 is provided between the pair of plate mem- -bers 585 so as to fix the lower ends of the plate members 585 with respect to the angle members 58|. These sleeves 588 and A589 are mounted over the rod 588. Disposed above the rod 588 is a second rod 598 that passes through the spaced plate members 585 and a spacer sleeve 59| is mounted over the rod 598 and serves to reinforce the plate members 585.

As best shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive a plurality of horizontally spaced rotatable shafts serving as conveyor rollers 592 are mounted in bearings 593' `(Fig. 8) in the spa-ced plate members 585. These rollers 592 are spaced relatively close together as indicated in Fig. 7 so as to form in eifect a continuous conveyor that commences lclosely adjacent to the periphery of the roller 321 of conveyor |81 (Fig. 6) and extends hori- Zontally in a direction toward the frame 511 of the slitter and Iseparator 515. Each of the rollers 592 is provided on one of its ends with a sprocket wheel 594, and as shown in Fig. 7 the sprocket wheels 594 for the first, third, fifth, etc., rollers 592 are disposed at one side of the machine adjacent to one of the plate members 585, Whereas the sprocket wheels 594 for the second, fourth, sixth, etc., rollers 592 are disposed at the other side of the machine adjacent to the other side of the plate mem-ber 585. In this manner adequate room is available for the sprocket wheels.

Journalled in the plate members 585 and disposed below the rollers 592 is a collar shaft 595 that carries a sprocket wheel 598 adjacent to each end thereof. Thus there is provided a powered sprocket wheel 598 for each set of sprocket wheels 594. A sprocket chain 591is provided for each set of sprocket wheels 594 and enga-ges each of such sprocket wheels as best shown in Fig. 9 and likewise operates about the corresponding powered sprocket wheel 598. An adjustable idler sprocket 598 is mounted on an adjustable plate 599 that is pivotally mounted on an end of the rod 598 there being provided a plate 599 for each idler sprocket 598. The sprocket chain 591 operates about the idler sprocket 598. The free end of each plate 599 is provided with a slot '888 that is adapted to slide on a lug 88| so that the relative position of the idler sprocket 598 may be adjusted to take up slack in the sprocket chain 591. Means associated with the lug 88| lare provided for locking the -plate 599 in a selected position.

Supported on the spaced angle members 584 is a shaft 882 that is journalled adjacent to its opposite ends in :bearings 883 and 4884. Each of the bearings 883 and 804 is mounted on an angle member 584 and is bolted in place as by bolts 885. One end of the shaft I882 terminates at the bearing 883, while the opposite end of the shaft projects through the bearing 884 and is provided with a double sprocket wheel 888 on the end thereof. A second sprocket wheel 881 is mounted on the shaft 882 between the double sprocket wheel 888 and the bearing `884. Again referring to Figs. 8 and 9 a sprocket chain 888 is adapted to operate about the sprocket'wheel '881 and likewi-se meshes with a sprocket wheel 8|3 that is mounted on the end of rshaft 595. An idler sprocket l889 is journalled on a plate 8|8, this plate 8|8 :being pivotally mounted on the end of rod 598. An arcuate slot 8|| is provided in the plate =8|8 and is adapted to ride on a lug 8|2 so that the plate 9|8 may be pivoted about the rod 598 so as to adjust the position -of the idler sprocket 889, the position of the plate 8|8 being fixed lby locking means cooperating with the lug 8|2. The sprocket chain y88B operates about the idler sprocket 889 and the tension in the chain is adjusted by the position of the idler sprocket 889.

Thus the powered sprocket wheel 898 is rotated by the drive through sprocket chain 888 and sprocket wheel 8|3 so as to rotate the numerous rollers 592 through the operation of the sprocket chains 591. The sprocket chain 888 is powered through the sprocket wheel 881 by rotation of shaft 882. This rotation of shaft 882 is brought about by a double sprocket chain 8|4 that operates over the double sprocket wheel 888, this double sprocket chain 8 4 being powered through a speed reducer 8|5. The speed reducer 8|5 in turn is driven by a motor 8|8. The tension in the sprocket chain 8|4 is adjusted by an adjustable idler sprocket 8|1.

As best shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive a plurality of slitting discs 8I8 are mounted on the shaft 882 and are 'fixed to the shaft so as to rotate therewith. These slitting discs 8|8 are uniformly spaced apart along the shaft 882, their spacing being in accordance with the desired width of the strips or ribbons that are to be cut from the combination nougat and caramel sheet that is fed into the slitter and separator. Mounted directly below the slitting discs 8|8 is a cutting drum 8|9 that is mounted on a shaft 828. This shaft 828 is journalled at its opposite ends in plate members 82|, each of which plate members 82| is pivotally mounted as at 822 (see Fig. 8) on a bracket 823 that is carried on the frame 511. The plate member 82| has a downwardly projecting arm 824 that is bifurcated to receive a collar 825, the arm 824 being pivotally mounted as at 828 on the collar 825. Passing through the collar 825 is a stud shaft 528 that is pivoted at one end at 821 on the horizontal shaft and is threaded as at 829 on the other end thereof. Threaded onto the end 828 of the stud shaft 828 is a rotatable collar 838 that carries aworm wheel 89|. Disposed below the worin wheel 83| is a rotatable shaft 832 that is supported in the plate member 585 (see Fig. 8) and carries a pair of worms 833, one being disposed in operative relationship with each of the worm wheels 83|. The worms 833 are fixed with respect to the shaft 832 so that upon rotation of shaft 892 both worms 833 drive the worm wheels 83|. A hand knob 834 is mounted on one or both ends of the shaft 832 and is adjustable for hand manipulation from the side of the device. Thus by rotating the hand knob 888 both worm wheels 83| are rotated through the worms 883 so as to move the collar 638 longitudinally along the stud shaft 828. This motion of the collar 838 along'the stud shaft 828 causes the cutting drum 8|9 to move toward or away from the slitting discs 8|8 so as to permit adjustment of the position ofthe cutting drum 519 with respect to the slitting discs 618. AS best shown in Fig. 10 it is desirable Vthat the cutting `edge of the discs S18 be in engagement with the periphery of the-cutting 'drum 6 i The drum Sit may be made of aluminum or some such material, whereas the slitting discs 618 are made of steel so that in practice it may be advisable for the slitting discs E18 to actually cut into the surlace of the cutting drum 519.

The bearings @d3 and @Bil (Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive) as previously mentioned are mounted on the angle framing members 58d and are actually bolted in place as at 6to. Each of the bolts 685 passes through an enlarged hole 635 in its respective bearing member so that the position of both bearing members G93 and Eli@ may be adjusted longitudinally along the angle framing members 53d. Thus the position of the slitting discs dit over the cutting drum Sie may be adjusted and adjustable stop members 63E v(Figs. 6 and 7) may be provided to Vassist in locking the bearing members in place after this adjustment has been made.

AS shown in Fig. 6 the rollers 592 at the forward end oi the slitter and separator 15 are disposed closely adjacent to the roller 32? at the exit end of the conveyor lill. When the leading edge of a sheet of candy is ilrst conveyed from the conveyor lill onto the slitter and separator 575 it is necessary to direct the leading edge onto the rollers 592 and for this purpose a feeder strip ll (see 9) is provided. This feeder strip S31! is disposed crosswise between the spaced plate members S85 (Fig. 8) and is mountedon a slidable plate 533. This plate 538 is slidably mounted in spaced grooved members '635 that are mounted on the 'plates As best shown in Fig. 9 the slida-ble plate S33 is provided with a rack il@ that engages a pair of pinions ttl (Figs. il and 9) ,which pinions lill! are mounted on a rotatable shaft G42 that is journalled in the spaced plates 585. An operating lever &3 is ilxed to the shaft blt2 and is provided with a knob 65st on its upper end. Thus by moving operating lever tilt is a clockwise direction (see Fig. 9) the feeder strip t3? is moved upwardly and is provided with a spanning portion 64S that spans the distance between the llrst roller 592 and the periphery of the belt conveyor lill (see Fig. 6). After the leading edge of 'the candy strip has been moved on the rollers 592 the-operating lever i133 can be rotated into a counterclockwise direction so as to lower the feeder strips t3? to an out-of-the-way position.

Referring now to Figs. S, 9 and ll the cutting drum Ello is provided with grooves t? throughout its length so as to provide pulleys for a plurality of pairs of Vebelts Glla and 648D. At the right hand end or the angle members 581i (see Figs. 6, '7 and l2) are upstanding upright supporting plates M9 between which is mounted `a drum 55S. This drum Still is mounted on a shaft 65E and is grcoved as at G52 to'accommodate the pairs of belts Edili). Thus these pairs of belts Still) are adapted to operate about the lower and upper drums 13 and G52 respectively. As best shown in Fig. l2 the shaft 651, upon which is mounted the upper drum Bilt is supported in adjustable'bearings, none of which is generally 'indicated at 55d. Each 'of these bearings bild comprises spaced bearing members 655 and B56, both of which are stationary, and an adjustable bearing portion ltill'. This adjustable Ibearing portion 5Flis mounted Von the end of van adjustment screw $58 that is carried in an arm 659 that is formed as an integral part of the upper bearing portion 65S. Adjustment nuts 650 X the relative position of the movable bearing `portion G51 so that the spacing of the shaft 65| with respect to the shaft Sill) (see Fig. 6) can be adjusted by manipulation of the adjusting screw 65B and the locking nuts EGE.

Each pair of belts '5.4% is provided with an idler pulley G6! that is mounted between a pair of spaced blocks 5%2 (Fig. 13) that are adapted to slide longitudinally along a pair of guide and supporting rods tot. The spaced blocks $52 are connected along their upper edges by a plate (55d, the rods Slis passing through the apertures in the blocks Gto and the connecting plate 66d. Framing members S55 and 566 support the lower and upper ends respectively of the rods 583. The lower framing member 855 is connected to the spaced angle members Stil, whereas 'the upper training member tot is supported between upn right legs 578 of the frame till' (see Fig. 8). An adjusting screv.1 S5? is threaded into the framing member 63 and projects beyond the framing member so as to engage the connecting member iid@ (Fig. 13). Thus each pulley @di may Ibe moved longitudinally along these supporting rods E53 by adjustment or its screw 5%? thereby adjusting the pressure of each idler pulley Gill against its respective pair of belts 'fllb (see l2). fi nut ttt on the adjusting screw 6d? locks the position of the screw after the adjustment has been made.

The drinn indicated at B69 in Fig. 6 is journalled between the angle members 581 at a position below the upper drum This lower drum t'l'is grooved so as to provide a support for the plurality of pairs or belts li-"'ila in a manner similar to the upper support for the belts Still). This lower drum 'i563 is likewise adjustable .by means applied by a mechanism generally indicated at Elli, but since this mechanism is similar in operation to the adjustable bearing indicated at 653@ in Fig. l2 a more complete description is believed unnecessary. Thus the lower belts Scilla are carried between upper and lower drums die and 659 and a plurality of idler pulleys 'Sli are provided to adjust the tension in the belts cita.. These lower idler pulleys ll are similar to the 'upper pulleys 55! described in connection with Fig. l2 and are likewise adjustable as previously described. y

Thus there are provided upper and lower conveyor belts lflb and @d8a respectively, they being arranged so that alternate pairs of belts are inchned upwardly and downwardly respectively.

As best shown in lligs. 6 and '7 a supporting bracket 672 is fastened to each of the longitudinal angle members 5B! and a rotatable shaft 673 is journalled in these spaced brackets Gli?. Mounted 'on the shaft '673 are a plurality of guide rollers Bld and these guide rollers are spaced between the pairs of belts 6580i. Between Yeach pair of guide rollers Slfl is a V-notched drum portion indicated in Fig. 7 at 675 upon which the corresponding pair of V-belts 655841. is adapted to ride. Thus there is provided a support with guides 'lor the V-belts Bid in the region substantially midway between their opposite end supports. Similarly an intermediate support and guide member generally indicated at Eid is prov1ded for the upper V -belts 509th, this member bein-g supported on spaced brackets lill' that are rcuntecl on the upper spaced angle members Mounted labove the V-belts 668e and 66817 are cooperating guide belts 618:1 and 61619. The guide belts 618aare mounted Vat one end over pulley drums 619 (Fig. 8) that are mounted on the shaft 602 and are disposed with one pulley drum 619 disposed between each pair of adjusting slitter discs 6|3. Each pulley drum 619 is grooved to receive a pair of guide belts 616e. The lower ends of the guide belts 61811l are supported by a drum 680 (see Fig. 6) that is journalledy in adjustable bearing members 68H that are mounted on the frame 511. The bearing members 68| are provided with take-up provisions including the adjusting mechanism 632 that is similar to the adjustable mechanism illustrated by members 65? to 660 inclusive in connection with Fig. 12. Thus the relative spacing between the lower drum 680 and the upper shaft `602 can be adjusted so as to insure proper tension in the guide belts 618e.

Similarly the upper guide belts 6161) are supported at their lower ends on pulley drums 619 that are carried on the shaft 662 and the upper ends of these guide belts 61619 are supported on a drum 683 that is mounted in adjustable bearings 685 adjacent to the top of the frame 511. These adjustable bearings 684 are likewise provided with a tension mechanism 666 for adjusting the tensio-n in the belts 618i?.

The relationship of the guide belts (ilia and 648:1 is such that there is a pair of guide belts 618a disposed directly over each pair of V-belts 648m. Similarly there is provided a, pair of guide belts 618?) directly over each pair of V-belts 663i).

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 8 there is provided on the end of shaft 620 a drive sprocket 686. Above the sprocket 686 is an idler sprocket 661 that is mounted on a stub shaft 688 that is journalled in a bearing plate 689. This bearing plate 689 is secured to the upper angle member 584 of the frame 511. It is to be noted that though the stub shaft 688 is disposed in alignment with the shaft 602 it is independent thereof with the idler sprocket 681 and may rotate entirely independent of the shaft 662. A sprocket chain 690 is adapted to operate over the drive sprocket 686 and the idler sprocket 631 and this sprocket chain 690 passes over a motor driven sprocket (not shown) that may be disposed below the slitter and separator machine. A lower idler sprocket 69! is journalled in an adjustable bearing plate 692 that is slotted as at 693 and thereby adjustably supported for horizontal movement on pins 694. The sprocket chain 690 passes over the idler sprocket 69| and tension in the sprocket chain 690 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjustable bearing plate 692 and hence the position of the idler sprocket 69 Thus it is seen that V-belts 648e and 6482) are powered by rotation of the shaft 620 and moved in a direction so that the upper conveying portions of the belts move from the cutting drum 6|9 to their distant drums 669 or 650 as the case may be, While the lower portions of the guide belts 618m and 6182) move in the same directions so that the adjacent portions of the belts 668e and 618a or 6481) and 61812 are adapted to move in the same direction. Since the guide belts 618a and 6181) are powered by the shaft 662 they are in motion at all times when the slitter discs 6I8 are operating. The V-belts 648e and 648D however are powered from the sprocket chain 690 operating about the drive sprocket 686 and consequently V-belts 648e and 648D are driven independently of the slitter discs 6|8 and may be g lo.. a stopped in their operation while the slitter discs 6|8 are allowed to continue operating.

At the discharge end of the slitter and separator unit 515 are lower and upper conveyor units generally indicated at 695e and 69513 respectively. Each of these conveyor units 695a and 695b comprises a plurality of rollers 696 that are disposed in parallel spaced relationship as best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 12. These rollers 696 are journalled in spaced bearing plates 691 that are supported on the upright supporting plates 649. Each of the rollers 696 is provided with a drive sprocket 698 that is disposed adjacent to one. end of the roller, and as shown the sprockets for the rst, third, fth and seventh rollers 696 are mounted adjacent to one side of the machine, whereas the sprockets for the second, fourth and sixth rollers are mounted adjacent to the opposite side of the machine. A drive sprocket 699 is mounted on a shaft 699a that is journalledin the spaced upright supporting members 649 a position below the corresponding bearing plate 691. A sprocket chain is adapted to operate about the drive sprocket 699 and passes over the corresponding sprocket wheels 698 carried by the rollers 696. Thus all of the rollers 696 are vpowered through the drive sprocket wheels 699 and each Yof the drive sprocket wheels 696 is driven by a sprocket chain 10| that operates about a sprocket wheel 102 mounted on the shaft 699e of the drive sprocket wheel 699. The drive chain 10| is motor driven as will be brought out hereinafter.

Thus there is provided a slitter and separator machine that is adapted to receive an endless sheet of candy from the belt conveyor |01 and slits this sheet into strips of candy that correspond in width with the width of candy bars. This machine then separates these endless strips alternately into ribbons or strips that are conveyed to lower and upper elevations by means of declined and inclined V-belts 648m and 6481) so that when these strips reach the conveyor units 695e and 69513 they are disposed with the adjacent ribbons at each level spaced apart at a distance corresponding to the width of one ribbon or strip of candy. These endless ribbons are then conveyed by the conveyor units 69511 and 6951) to the slicer 3 (Fig-3) that is disposed at station D.

If during the operation of the slitter and separator, it is desired at any -time to halt movement of the candy through the machine, the V-belts 648e and 64817 may be stopped by ceasing the operation of Athe drive through the sprocket chain 690. If the sheet of candy however is in contact with the slitter discs 6|8 during the period when the advancement of the candy through the machine is halted, it is desirable that the slitter discs 6| 8 continue to rotate in order to prevent sticking of the candy to the discs. This is readily accomplished because the drive for the slitter discs 6| 8 is entirely independent of the drive for the V-belts 648a and 648D.

From the upper and lower bar conveyor units 695e and 69512 respectively the ribbons or strips of candy are introduced into the bar slicer that is indicated. at station D in Figs. 2 and 3.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I l'claim as new and desire to *secure by 'Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyor for supporting an elongated sheet of dough, rotaryknives disposed above and spaced across the conveyor for dividing the dough Adirection with respect tothe conveyor from beneath the spaces between theknives and corn- `inencing substantially directly below the axis of the rotary knives, there being a separate belt for each space so that there are a plurality oi dough strip supporting belts spaced across the conveyor, the belts extending alternately to two diierent levels.

2. Apparatus' for slitting a continuous sheet'of dough into separated strips comprising a rotatable drum over which the 'dough passes, a plurality Vof spaced rotary` knives disposed above said drum and cooperating therewith to form bites therebetween, a plurality of belt conveyor means passing aroundsaid drum, a separate conveyor means being provided between each adjacent pair of bitesand adapted to `convey adough strip away from said drum, alternate conveyor means extending from said Adrum in an upwardly inclined direction, the intermediate conveyor means eX- tending from said drum in a downwardly inclined direction.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein` said drum and said associated conveyor means are driven from one driving source and said rotary knives are driven from another driving source whereby operation of the former may be stopped independently of stopping operation of the latter.

ROBERT F. MORRISON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,795 Pfenninger Oct. l, 1912 1,527,262 Martin Feb. 24, 1925 1,949,835 James Mar. 6, 1934 2,080,113 Cloud May 11, 1937 2,113,575 Decker Apr. 12, 1938 2,215,575 Bowman Sept. 24, 1940 2,248,688 Petrovic July 8, 1941 2,256,927 Pittman Sept. 23, 1941 2,282,525 Maguire May 12, 1942 2,425,356 Sticelber Aug. 12, 1947 2,454,316 Haecks Nov. 23, 1948 

